מְשׁוֹבָב
Meshobab, an Israelite
Definition
Meshobab is a proper name of an Israelite man, recorded in the genealogical lists of the tribe of Simeon. The name appears only once in the Bible, in 1 Chronicles 4:34, where Meshobab is listed among the leaders of the Simeonite clans during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. As a proper noun, it refers solely to this individual. The name itself is derived from a Hebrew root meaning 'to turn back' or 'to return,' suggesting a meaning like 'returned' or 'restored.'
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a personal name in a single genealogical context. It is found in 1 Chronicles 4:34, within a list of Simeonite leaders who expanded their territory during a time of prosperity under King Hezekiah. There are no other occurrences or varied usages in the Old Testament.
Etymology
The name Meshobab (מְשׁוֹבָב) is a passive participle form derived from the root שׁוּב (shuv, H7725), which means 'to turn back, return, or restore.' The form suggests a meaning such as 'one who has been returned' or 'restored.' It is related to the common Hebrew verb for repentance (teshuvah), which comes from the same root.
Semantic Range
While the individual Meshobab is not a major biblical figure, the etymology of his name connects to the significant theological theme of return and restoration. The root שׁוּב (shuv) is central to the concept of repentance in the Old Testament—a turning back to God. Although the name itself isn't theologically loaded, its root word reminds readers of God's enduring call for His people to return to Him, a theme prominent in the prophets (e.g., Jeremiah 3:22, Hosea 14:1).
In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried meaning and were sometimes descriptive of circumstances, character, or hopes. A name like Meshobab ('returned') could indicate a story of personal or familial restoration—perhaps a child born after a period of hardship, loss, or exile. Its appearance in a list of leaders during Hezekiah's reign, a time of religious reform and national revival (2 Chronicles 29-31), may subtly reflect a context of spiritual 'return' to God.
There are no direct synonyms as this is a unique proper name. However, it shares its root with: shuv (שׁוּב, H7725) — the verb meaning 'to return, turn back,' which is the source of the name's meaning.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →